I have a good friend, Sean Stringer, that just did his 13th consecutive Ironman in Louisville last Sunday. (started 13, completed 11, DNF 2). He’s been traveling the world going from race to race since January.
We were talking after Ironman Louisville and wondering what the record is? He hasn’t promoted himself at all but think the fact that he’s still going at it from January is a huge accomplishment. Luis Alvarez has done them all worldwide but not in one year.
It has to be a trust fund or maybe self-made millionaire. There is no way you could hold down a job, train and travel like that without a bunch of cash and lots of free time.
I think it’s great. Maybe he is going for a record. What is the record for the most IMs in one year?
Look at me!!! Look at me!!!
How? I have never seen a post by him anywhere on here promoting himself? Maybe he is somewhere else, and if so he’s doing a poor job as most people have never heard of him before and the years almost over!
Your friend has a long way to go to break the record.Vincenzo Catalano,Jaques Fox and Giacomo Maritati did 31 in 2004/05.
Sergio Cordiero of Brazil won the world Ultra-triathlon series a few years back with a handfull of Double Irons,a Triple and the Deca Challenge which that year was a Ironman a day for ten days.His average time was in the 12hr range for all ten.
The of course you have the legendary Guy Rossi who has done the following:
Congratulations to your friend on his many successful Ironmans- definitely impressive. I would suspect that the record is a bit higher, however, as one of my friends just completed her 15th Ironman, and she’s only 35 (so presumably has many more left in her.) I would not be at all surprised if there are a fair number of those in 20+ range.
Then there are otherworldly performances, such as Sister Madonna Buder who has done a mind-boggling 35 Ironmans (out of the 325+ triathlons she’s done…)
I am far more impressed that he is willing to make the financial commitment than in doing the actual distances. I imagine the logistics in pulling off those events feels like a job.
For someone properly trained, completing the IM distance at a pedestrian pace is not difficult. He probably doesn’t even train much between IM’s. Like ultra running, the events are training days and your body absorbs the work and recovers.
I’ve though about this and yes agree its an accomplishment I’ve done 3 a year few times and could do more but the clincher is getting into the race before it fills up haveing money
to enter every race and time off to race basically training is year round and you don’t have to train fullly for all of them if they are close enough so while it sounds like a really big deal
and dont get me wrong it is still an accomplishment I’d do more if I had the money and was retired.
I have done 28 (louisville was the 28th florida is next then st george and just signed up for canada) but only have 5 weeks vacation and so many $600 charges left on my credit cards…haha
BUT I’m more impressed with guys like Joe Bonness who does 3 4 and sometimes 5 somtimes 3 in 3 weeks won gft ironman at age 50 2 weeks after hawaii and then went faster at imf a week later and I bet support crew an attest works his but off running his own bussiness. Now thats impressive. Of course having Support Crew running the show makes a big difference
I think doing 12 or 13 is more a matter of having the money and time off…
He’s never marketed himself anywhere or self promoted himself to anyone. Sean’s far from a ‘check me out’ ‘bro-brah’ kind of guy. He’s a very humble and nice person. He’s been saving up for a long time, he took a year off of work and is doing it as something he just wants to achieve as a personal goal. It’s not about being the best, or showboating but rather simply setting out to do something he wanted to do because he loves the sport. Sounds kinda familiar of how the Ironman started, Setting out to see where the limits are, what you can do.
If you are at one of the races this year say Hi he’s a great guy and has a ton of knowledge to share about the IM races he has done and happy to talk to you about any of them.
I am far more impressed that he is willing to make the financial commitment than in doing the actual distances. I imagine the logistics in pulling off those events feels like a job.
For someone properly trained, completing the IM distance at a pedestrian pace is not difficult. He probably doesn’t even train much between IM’s. Like ultra running, the events are training days and your body absorbs the work and recovers.
It’s funny, he mentioned that. He’s actually gained weight since he started. No time to train since he’s recovering from each race.